‘Couldn’t script this’: Bangladesh celebrates T20 World Cup triumph twice after dramatic ending

The T20 World Cup clash between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ended in dramatic scenes, with the Tigers celebrating their victory twice.

Bangladesh was given two opportunities to celebrate its victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday afternoon, with the T20 World Cup contest ending in farcical scenes at the Gabba.

The Zimbabweans needed five runs from the final delivery for an unlikely win, only for Bangladesh spinner Mosaddek Hossain to beat the outside edge of Blessing Muzarabani.

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Bangladesh wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan whipped off the bails to complete the stumping as the Tigers began celebrating their Super 12 triumph, embracing next to the Gabba deck.

The Brisbane crowd erupted as players shook hands and made their way towards the dugout alongside the umpires.

But as the Bangladesh team approached the boundary rope, waving at their ecstatic supporters in the stands, two words appeared on the Gabba big screen: “Not Out.”

Replays showed that Hasan had caught the ball in front of the stumps, which is illegal, meaning the final delivery was a no-ball and needed to be replayed.

Umpires Nitin Menon and Marais Erasmus sheepishly dragged the players back onto the field for the free hit, with Zimbabwe now requiring just four runs for victory.

Thankfully for Bangladesh, Muzarabani once again failed to make contact with Hossain’s last delivery, meaning the Tigers had clinched a three-run win.

“It was extremely weird,” Zimbabwe veteran Sean Williams told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“Obviously I‘ve never experienced something like that in a cricket match before, but again, it just goes to show in a T20 game, there’s always a little bit of hope; anything can happen.”

Poor Bangladesh had no idea what transpired there. Were smiling and waving to their fans. The umpires had to drag them back on to the field. What scenes here at the Gabba #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/ZeAYGbrkvh

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 30, 2022

Oh my god. No ball. Free hit. Players on their way back out! #BANvZIM#T20WorldCup

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 30, 2022

Insane scenes at the Gabba. Players leave the pitch only for stumping to overturned. Zimbabwe still alive against Bangladesh. #T20WorldCup

— Adrian Arciuli (@Adrian_Arciuli) October 30, 2022

No better reality TV than sport. Couldn’t script this stuff. #T20WorldCup

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) October 30, 2022

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bat first, with the Tigers registering 7/150 from their 20 overs.

Bangladesh opener Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a career-best 71 (55), while Zimbabwe seamers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani each claimed two wickets.

The Zimbabwe run chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets in the Powerplay before collapsing to 5/69 in the 12th over.

But Williams combined with leg-spinner Ryan Burl for a crucial 63-run partnership for the sixth wicket to keep Zimbabwe in the contest.

Williams cracked three boundaries in five deliveries to swing momentum back in Zimbabwe’s favour before Al Hasan removed the 36-year-old with a superb run out in the penultimate over.

Nurul Hasan of Bangladesh stumps Richard Ngarava of Zimbabwe. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Zimbabwe needed 16 runs from the final over to pull off a historic victory, and the odds were arguably in their favour after Richard Ngarava slapped the first six of his T20I career over the fine leg boundary.

But Hossain held his nerve at the death, bowling the Tigers to a dramatic victory – twice.

“Mossadek bowled very well in this pressure situation,” Shanto told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“Honestly, it was a little nervous, but we believed we can do it.”

Tigers paceman Taskin Ahmed finished with 3/19 from his four overs, while fellow quick Mustafizur Rahman also impressed with 2/15.

“It‘s an emotional roller coaster, isn’t it?” Williams said.

“Just cricket in general is an emotional roller coaster. From the first ball to the last ball, a lot happens. There’s a lot of ups and downs, happiness, sadness throughout all that.

“Obviously we‘re unhappy, but it’s an attitude for us that we’ve got to take the positive from today and move into tomorrow with that.”

Bangladesh will next face India at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday evening, with the first ball scheduled for 7pm AEDT.